Rahmawati Husein, a lecturer of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), was elected to be a member of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Advisory Group. She became the only representative from Southeast Asia and one of 19 people selected by the UN Secretary General for a period of October 2018 – October 2021. Since established in 2010, this is the first time that an Indonesian representative chosen as the CEFR Advisory Group member.
Rahmawati, who is also Vice Chair of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), informed that the CERF Advisory Group was founded based on an agreement at the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 with its resolution on ‘strengthening the coordination of the emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.’
“The CEFR advisory group comprises of experts who will serve in their individual capacity to provide policy guidance and expert advice to the Emergency Relief Coordinator on the use and impact of the fund. The fund is allocated to countries confronting crises due to conflicts, wars, or disasters. The CEFR is tactical, fast, and humanitarian funds provided less than 48 hours to respond to emergencies,” explained Rahmawati.
“The CEFR Advisory Group meets twice per year at times that are appropriate for reviewing the annual use and implementation of the fund, and for facilitating its regular replenishment. This year the meeting was conducted in Dublin, Ireland, on 19-20 June,” stated Rahmawati.
“The meeting discusses the significance of the increasing and effective use of humanitarian funds which are insufficient to respond to humanitarian crises all over the world. It also talked about anticipatory financing which will save more lives and funds since preparedness has been undertaken to respond to climate-driven disasters as droughts and to be provided for conflict victims who have been displaced for years,” she declared.
At the meeting, Rahmawati emphasized that the CEFR administered by the UN agencies as WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, and UNFPA should be jointly managed with central government through clusters or sectors, local government, and non-governmental organizations as what Muhammadiyah has performed in national and local levels.